Communicating with Deployed Service Members

Communicating with Deployed Service Members

Staying in touch is vital.

One of the most effective tools you have is communication. The importance of this cannot be overstressed! When Guard families are facing deployment, finding ways to stay in touch are vital throughout the deployment process.

Family members should develop plans for staying in touch before deployment occurs. Letters are probably the easiest and least expensive way to keep in touch. Remember, letters should be numbered, as they mayarrive in bunches or out of sequence.

Send photographs, magazine articles, and newspaper stories with your letters to military personnel. Children should be encouraged to draw pictures and cut out cartoons from the newspaper. If possible, send an audiotape or, if possible. Phone calls are great, but long-distance overseas is expensive.

The important thing to remember is to always keep the lines of communication flowing. As much as you need air and water, you need to hear from your spouse and they from you. Children need to hear from their parents, and vice versa. Many options for communication are available. Take advantage of them!